Heart Defects

A congenital heart defect (CHD) is a defect in the heart and/or great blood vessels which is present at birth. Many types of heart defects exist, but the most common types of heart conditions related to the use of Paxil are Ventricular Septal or Atrial Septal defects. Congenital heart defects happen because of incomplete or abnormal development of the fetus' heart during the very early weeks of pregnancy, usually in the first trimester. Some are known to be associated with genetic disorders, and others could be related to the use of Paxil during the first trimester.

If you were on Paxil during your pregnancy and your child suffered from a heart condition, it is imperative that you speak with an attorney immediately to protect you interests.

How a Healthy Heart Works 

In order to understand more about congenital heart defects, it is helpful to understand how a healthy heart works. The heart is the central pump of the circulatory system and consists of four chambers - the left and right atrium and the left and right ventricle. Each of these chambers have one-way valves.

The heart basically works like this:

  1. Left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and empties into the left ventricle via the mitral valve
  2. The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood out to the body through the aortic valve
  3. Once oxygen has been absorbed by tissues, it returns to the right atrium of the heart and then enters the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve
  4. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood through the pulmonic valve into the lungs where the blood gets oxygenated.

This is the normal way things function but congenital heart defects can affect its ability to function properly.

Common Congenital Heart Defects

Here is a list of the most common congenital heart defects:

  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
  • Atrioventricular Canal Defect
  • Coarctation of the Aorta (COA)
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
  • Pulmonary Atresia
  • Pulmonary Stenosis
  • Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
  • Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection
  • Transposition of the Great Arteries
  • Tricuspid Atresia
  • Truncus Arteriosus
  • Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

 

Legal Options

If you were on Paxil during your pregnancy and your child suffered from a heart condition, it is imperative that you speak with an attorney immediately to protect you interests. A Paxil Patient Advocate is available to speak with you anytime to find out more about your case. Call 1-800-554-4109 for more information.